Health and happiness

Real-life plus trends, info and advice You r health +

INSTANT APPOINTMENT

Dr Tim Ubhi is a consultant paediatrician and founder of The Children’s e-Hospital ( e-hospital.co.uk ).

AThis is difficult to answer without knowing more. We know that the onset of puberty can result in a change in character, but it is also important to ke an open mind to other causes of behavioural change that can present at this age. Try and have an open discussion with your child in the first place, to see if you can identify what is oin on both internally and ally i.e. at school n social groups. ontacting school

nd teaching staff can also help to

shed light on any problems occurring at chool. If the mptoms are stent or concerning, you should take advice from your GP. Spot the signs Q My 11-year-old son seems very withdrawn and moody at the moment. Could he be depres Laura, Glasgow

Feeling down

Reason to worry? Q My eight-year-old daughter has nose bleeds quite often. Is it something I should worry about? Vicky, Newcastle A Nosebleeds are very common in children with a peak age of between two and ten years. They can happen for various reasons including irritation to the nasal passage, trauma, or a cold or sinus infection. They arise from bleeding in a part of the nose called ‘little’s area’ where there are lots of blood vessels. Often, the cause n’t etermined ut if they re regular or heavy you ee your GP. They will decide if referral to a specialist is needed. Common problem

Sore subject Q I think my six-year-old son has impetigo. What’s the best way for it to be treated? Allison, Birmingham A Impetigo usually presents with re sore blister which can burst and leave crusty brown patches on the skin. Although contagious, it is easily treated with a combination of antibiotic cream and/or oral antibiotics depending on the severity and location of the rash. Impetigo usually clears up within 7 to 10 days if it’s treated early, so phone or visit your GP for a diagnosis. Whilst contagious, it’s important to keep your son off school to avoid spreading the condition. Easily treated Ditch the scales

What’s on your mind?

Loving yourself

G Y I’ve never been happy with the way I look and I’m always trying to lose a bit of weight. How can I finally learn to love myself?

IMAG S: ALAMY AN F or many people, it is easier to love others than it is to love themselves, but selfacceptance is an important part of developing healthy relationships. Cutting out negative beliefs and trying not to compare yourself to others are all ways you can learn to feel happier with your own body.

What do you like? Write a list of all the things you do like about yourself. Choose things that aren’t related to how much you weigh or what you look like. Read your list often, and add to it when you become aware of more things to like about yourself. and self-acceptance that makes you beautiful. Beauty isn’t necessarily based on looks but is instead more about how you feel.

Surround yourself with positive people Our negative thoughts about ourselves often come from people whose opinion we value. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and recognise the importance of liking yourself as you naturally re

Be positive

Beauty is a state of mind

Once you start to feel good about yourself, you’ll begin to carry yourself with a sense of confidenc

T OR

E

One in five women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed too late to receive any treatment. This March, charities across the UK are coming together to help more women learn how to spot the signs early as part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. How much do you know about the disease? Take our true or false quiz to find out.

Ovarian cancer isn t common.  True  False

2The disease doesn’t affect women under 30.  True  False

A swollen tummy is a symptom of ovarian cancer.  True  False

The exact cause of ovarian cancer is unknown.  True  False

The earlier ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of cure.  True  False

1. FALSE Ovarian cancer, or cancer of the ovaries, is one of the most common types of cancer in women. There are around 7,500 new ovarian cancer cases in the UK every year, that’s about 20 every day. It’s the sixth most common cancer in the UK for women.

2. FALSE Ovarian cancer y age, but it is much rarer in younger women. 8 in 10 cases are women over the age of 50, with the condition mainly affecting women who have been through the menopause.

3. TRUE Other common symptoms include feeling constantly bloated, discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area, feeling full quickly when eating and needing to pee more often than normal. Symptoms are often difficult to recognise as they’re similar to more common conditions such as

WORDS AND PHOTOS: SWNS irritable bowel syndrome. 4. TRUE Although the cause is unknown, there are factors that can increase a women’s risk of getting the disease. Being over the age of 50, a family history of breast cancer, suffering from endometriosis and being overweight are all factors. 5. TRUE Early diagnosis is key to treating ovarian cancer. Its often not recognised until it’s already spread, and a cure is not possible. Overall, around half of women with the disease will live for at least five years after diagnosis.

More brits than ever are swaying towards veganism and the trend might be good for our eyesight as well as our waistlines.

Eyecare experts at Optical Express have revealed that plant-based diets are full of vitamins that are crucial to our eyesight. Carrots, squash and spinach are all proven to increase the eyes ability to perform in low light. A VEGAN DIET IS GOOD FOR YOUR EYES

A carrot a day

Sarah Louhisalo, 22, from Preston had no idea why she kept blacking out…

Looking up as fireworks swirled across the sky, I cuddled into my partner, Jamie.

It was November 2018, and we’d wrapped up warm and headed to our local bonfire night display.

With a hot chocolate warming my hands, I looked to Jamie.

‘This is exactly what I needed,’ I smiled. After a hectic few weeks it was nally get some downtime. t started training as a teacher e and I had moved into our ed house together.

ng as much as I could during t work, I’d come home and y evenings unpacking boxes. tarted taking its toll and I ng pretty stressed out and d by it all. t at the fireworks with Jamie was exactly what I needed. Only, as I watched the display descend upon the sky above me, I started to feel faint.

The whizzes and booms of the fireworks suddenly started to fade…

Before I knew it, I came round on a nearby bench.

‘That was weird,’ I said to Jamie, who’d sat me down.

It must be all the stress at work and home , I thought to myself. I was a little shaken up, but I put it down to everything that was going on and not looking after myself enough. It made me think, and in the weeks after, I hit the gym and drank plenty of water.

But I started getting headaches. Driving to work a few months

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